The wedding supplier market can seem saturated, but it can often be hard to secure the best wedding suppliers. There is a lot of choice for all services, however with that being said, 22,000 people got married in Ireland in 2016, meaning there is more than enough work to go around. Luckily, following a few easy, common sense, tips can be a huge help in getting the ones you want.

1. Include all the wedding details

A thoughtful personal message from a couple is much more likely to secure a booking. One that reads “what’s yer best price, let me know soon, if not that’s fine” isn’t ideal. Suppliers receive many messages that don’t even include the date or location. Write it once, then copy and paste it from there on out, it saves everyone time.

2. Make it clear you’ve researched them

It’s can be very obvious when a couple is just comparing prices and haven’t checked your website or samples. For example, when a couple sends a bulk enquiry through the service finder on weddingsonline.ie, each supplier can see who they have also sent it to. When a supplier notices the couple have sent it to 20 other wedding suppliers, many of whom have a very different style, then they may be less likely to reply.

A simple personal note to say you’re reaching out because you liked a certain video, or set of photographs etc is a great approach. It shows you’ve taken the time to review their work. Sending fewer, but better messages is usually the most effective approach.

3. Don’t ask for a discount in the first message

Budget constraints are a real issue, and we all have sympathy for couples who struggle with financing a wedding. However, prices are set at their levels for a reason. The best wedding suppliers generally charge a fair price for the level of service rendered. Discounts can be done, but it’s not an ideal opening line to ask for one.

4. Saying you or your partner don’t really want the service

An immediate red flag is a couple booking last minute and saying they ‘don’t really want the service but might regret not getting it’. The best wedding suppliers will want to work with someone who understands the value of their service. Saying you are only getting one because you think you’d regret it, usually isn’t a great starting point.

5. Asking to pay the deposit before speaking

It might seem like a good idea to try to save your date as soon as possible, however, the best wedding suppliers will want to speak to you first. Usually on the phone at the very least before committing to a project. Many want to get to know couples prior to the wedding so they know how to approach the project. It’s not simply a case of picking something off a shelf and going to the checkout, you’re likely hiring someone for 12 hours of onsite, in-person, work.

6. “Keep your distance as photographs/video gets priority”

Videographers and photographers usually get along really well on the day. We’re constantly around each other and trying to ensure everyone gets what they need while keeping out of the background of the clips and photos. We’re all best friends for the day. Prioritising one over the other, especially with a warning to keep out of the way in the first message, is a clear sign that the couple don’t value either their video/photographer’s work.

7. Allow social media sharing

Social media is hugely important to the vast majority of wedding suppliers. If you are not happy for the video/photos to be shared on social media, then you may well be reducing your potential suppliers. Generally, our couples are delighted to share their wedding highlights on social media. If privacy is a concern, then that’s also not a problem, but make it clear early on.

With the amount of suppliers that couples need to book, and the general headache of organising a wedding, it can be easy to slip into auto mode and have your communication style slip a bit. But if you follow these simple tips you’ll be sure to stand out in the crowd of enquiries and get the supplier you prefer, whoever that may be.